Davis Cup 2024: India trail 0-2 against Sweden after N Sriram Balaji, Ramkumar Ramanathan lose
India did not have a memorable Day 1 of their Davis Cup World Group 1 tie against Sweden on Saturday, September 14. The team, comprising N Sriram Balaji and Ramkumar Ramanathan, trail 0-2 at the Royal Tennis Hall in Stockholm.
Balaji played the first match against Elias Ymer and lost 4-6, 2-6. In the first set, Ymer stormed into a lead with an early break of serve. Trailing 4-5, Balaji saved a couple of set points, but Ymer closed the set out with an ace.
The second set started similarly after Balaji dropped his serve early to concede a 2-0 lead to his Swedish opponent. Ymer kept exerting more pressure on Balaji after going 4-0 up with another break of serve. Balaji held his serve twice, but Ymer finished the contest in style with an ace on match point.
In the second match, Ramanathan lost 3-6, 4-6 to Leo Borg, the son of the legendary Bjorn Borg. Ramanathan made a stupendous start to the opening set after taking a lead with an early break of serve.
But Borg turned his fortunes around by storming to a 5-2 lead. Unforced errors cost Ramanathan as Borg closed out the set comfortably.
At 2-2, the second set was poised for a close finish. But Borg got the crucial break and eventually closed the match out.
On Day 2, India needs to win all three of their matches against Sweden to go through to the Qualifiers next year. It’s pertinent to note that Sweden has a 5-0 record over India in the history of the Davis Cup.
Davis Cup 2024 Day 1 results
N Sriram Balaji lost to Elias Ymer 4-6, 2-6
Ramkumar Ramanathan lost to Leo Borg 3-6, 4-6
Davis Cup 2024 Day 2 schedule
N Sriram Balaji/Ramkumar Ramanathan vs Filip Bergevi/Andre Goransson
Ramkumar Ramanathan vs Elias Ymer
N Sriram Balaji vs Leo Borg